Woodwell House

Updated 4 December 2020

We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 as part of our regulatory functions. This inspection was planned to check whether the provider is meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Health and Social Care Act 2008.

As part of CQC’s response to the coronavirus pandemic we are conducting a thematic review of infection control and prevention measures in care homes.

The service was selected to take part in this thematic review which is seeking to identify examples of good practice in infection prevention and control.

This inspection took place on 11th November 2020 and was announced.

Updated 4 December 2020

The inspection took place on 8 May 2018 and was unannounced. The service was rated as Requires Improvement at our last inspection with two breaches of regulation. The breaches of regulation related to Regulation 13 – the service had not been meeting the conditions on a person’s DoLS authorisation, and Regulation 17 – Quality assurance systems.

Following the last inspection, we asked the provider to complete an action plan to show what they would do and by when to improve the key questions Effective and Well Led to at least good. At this inspection we found improvement had been made and the service was rated as Good.

The service provides care and accommodation to people who have learning difficulties and autism. At the time of our inspection there were seven people living in the home.

The care service has been developed and designed in line with the values that underpin the Registering the Right Support and other best practice guidance. These values include choice, promotion of independence and inclusion. People with learning disabilities and autism using the service can live as ordinary a life as any citizen.

There was a registered manager in place. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. Like registered providers, they are ‘registered persons’. Registered persons have legal responsibility for meeting the requirements in the Health and Social Care Act 2008 and associated Regulations about how the service is run.

At our last inspection, we found that the conditions on people’s DoLS authorisations were not always being met. At this inspection we saw that improvements had been and the service had taken action to ensure they were complying with any such conditions. We also found that improvements had been made to the quality assurance systems.

People at the service were safe. There were sufficient numbers of staff to meet people’s needs and ensure their safety. Occasional agency staff were used but in the main people were supported by a consistent and well established team of staff. People received safe support with their medicines; these were stored securely and stock checks taken regularly.

The service was effective, staff worked with healthcare professionals to meet people’s health needs. People had health action plans in place that detailed the appointments they had for example, to check their eyesight. People received nutritional support in accordance with their needs. The service met people’s dietary needs and preferences. The service understood and implemented the principles of the Mental Capacity Act 2005.

The service was caring. People were supported by staff who understood their needs well and had built positive working relationships. Staff spoke warmly about the people in the home. People were able to maintain contact with their families and loved ones.

People were able to take part in a range of activities including swimming, arts activities and walks in the local area.

The service was well led. The staff team were positive and worked well together to ensure people’s needs were met. There was a system in place to monitor the quality and safety of the service.